Comparison of Left Ventricular Global Ejection Fraction and Wall Motion With Tc99m Tetrofosmin Gated SPECT and Radionuclide Ventriculography

The aim of this prospective study was to compare left ventricular global ejection fraction (EF) and wall motion with Tc99m Tetrofosmin Gated SPECT (GSPECT) and radionuclide ventriculography (MUGA). Material and method: The patient population comprised 45 patients (22 female, 23 male) with an age range of 38-74 years (mean age 62.3±7.8). GSPECT stress and MUGA were performed within a week to all patients. The patients were divided in 3 groups according to myocardial perfusion findings. Fifteen patients had normal myocardial perfusion (N), 14 had ischemia (I) and 16 had myocardial infarction (MI). Comparison between MUGA and GSPECT ejection fractions were performed with Student paired t test. Correlations between MUGA and GSPECT EF were evaluated using linear regression. The agreement for evaluation of regional wall motion was assessed using kappa statistics.
RESULTS
In the first group the ejection fractions were 64.5±6.4 %, 65.9±6.4 % (p<0.17). In the second group the ejection fractions were 58.6±10.6 % 55.1±12.3 % (p<0.06), in the third group 44.5±13.1 %, 39.5±12.1 % (p<0.007) for MUGA and GSPECT respectively. Comparison of evaluation of regional wall motion between the two methods demonstrated excellent agreement (the kappa value was 0.899). I concluded that GSPECT and MUGA provided good correlation of global EF measurements in normal persons, and patients with ischemic heart disease or previous myocardial infarction.